When I walked out of Le Puy (after much dawdling there), I had no intention of getting to a particular point in the 90 days allowed by Schengen. In fact, I ended up in Pamplona, after which I visited San Sebastian and Bordeaux. Next year, I got to Santiago, Valenca and, lastly, Fisterra, every inch walked (not that it matters!). The few days I had left over before the flight were spent in lovely Segovia. The best and cheapest meal (dhal with brains) was had near Dubai docks, on the way home. (Why am I mentioning that?) God didn't care about this lack of serious focus, Saint James didn't care, and nobody back home cared. I didn't care.
The point is, all kinds of stuff does not matter unless we make it matter. We talk of leaving behind our old selves, but I bring my slackness and dawdly nature on pilgrimage, just as surely as others bring their goal setting and scheduling. I think achievement-oriented people are just wonderful, and I quite understand their frustration at my afternoon starts, constant rest days, and short stages.The world needs more of them and fewer of me. They must increase, I must decrease. But I think God or nature allows a few of my species to survive and flaunt the flag of dawdling so others know it's okay to stop, rest, linger, cancel or just go home. Really, it's okay! There are no thunderbolts, and anybody who has had the privilege of walking through the Auvergne in Spring shouldn't be looking for thunderbolts. If you get as far as Conques, you've been given a great gift and received a great gift. Hey, you're in Conques!
Medieval pilgrims had to keep going because of vows and practical factors. I'm not medieval. Some modern pilgrims make a kind of vow. I don't. Yet I feel I am a pilgrim, and always have been, in a way. Whether jogging in the scrub here, catching a train to Chartres, walking through Paris slums to Saint-Denis or strolling the hills near Siena, I always feel a bit pilgrimish. But if I'm ever refused an albergue or a credencial, I won't argue. They're probably right!
Fortunately, none of it matters.